Bosco and the Bees

By Cat Ritchie

Bosco, a young fairy, lives high in the mountains of the Continental Divide. Surrounded by nature, Bosco is truly happy where he is. But he was born under a Queen's edict: he must declare his chosen life's path by his tenth year, or else enter into five years of servitude and mentoring in that Queen's distant court, away from his beloved mountai

• Language: English
• Publisher: Atmosphere Press
• Release date: Jan 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781636496191

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Bosco and the Bees

by Cat Ritchie

atmosphere press

Copyright © 2021 Cat Ritchie

Published by Atmosphere Press

Cover art by Armin Ritchie

No part of this book may be reproduced

except in brief quotations and in reviews

without permission from the publisher.

Bosco and the Bees

2021, Cat Ritchie

atmospherepress.com

To Armin, my artistic genius,

and Case, my linguistic gymnast,

You both inspire your old Ma daily.

Chapter 1

The Queen was coming.

Rowan flew down the mountainside, deep in thought. Tall for a fairy at nearly seven inches, he had dark brown hair and a full beard. Rounding a rocky outcropping, he swerved suddenly to avoid an early spring robin. The bird flared its gray wings and dropped to the ground, scolding fiercely. Rowan bowed a brief apology before continuing his flight.

The Queen was coming. In the next few days. Bringing her court here, to Somewhere. Rowan scowled and flew faster.

Lost in his thoughts, Rowan didn’t see the spider’s web before he smashed through it. Trailing strands of the shattered web, Rowan landed on a nearby rock. Spitting pieces of the webbing out of his mouth, he released a cloud of fairy dust, making the mess less sticky. Pulling strings of web off his body and wings, he forced himself to calm down.

Crawling out into the morning light next to her ruined web, the spider focused her glittering eyes on Rowan. Noting her large size, Rowan carefully stepped backward, hopefully out of her range.

Sorry, madam, Rowan offered another short bow. As he bowed, he directed a burst of energy toward the spider, intoning the words, "besides, fairies taste really, really terrible."

The spider shuddered as the energy washed over her. Moving her mandibles irritably, she leaned back, then abruptly turned away from Rowan and started rebuilding her web.

Rowan smiled. With spiders, it never hurt to be cautious. Especially when they were half your size.

Once his wings were clean, Rowan continued down toward a nearby meadow. Though traces of snow still glistened on the mountain ridges above, spring had arrived, and the meadow ahead was bursting with early flowers: blue columbine, pink fireweed, golden arnica, rosy paintbrush. In the midst of Somewhere’s main herb garden, Rowan spotted his life partner, Dorialle, planting new seeds. Her long red hair sparkled in the sun as she sang happily. Around one shoulder she wore a soft woven sling that bulged and moved.

As Rowan landed next to her, Dorialle reached into the sling, carefully lifting out the sleeping baby within. Isn’t he beautiful? she asked, handing him to Rowan. His wings are just starting to come in.

Rowan gently massaged the swelling nubs on the baby’s back. He is beautiful, indeed. Rowan felt a swell of pride and love as he held their son. Then he remembered.

Dorialle, the Queen is coming here to see our son.

Dorialle gasped.

Lady Sylph told me the whole Royal Court is coming here to hold a naming ceremony for him.

She’s never come here before, Dorialle said. Won’t that raise a lot of questions?

Perhaps. Though that’s probably her intention.

Dorialle watched their sleeping baby. She’s still trying to get you to come home, isn’t she?

Rowan hugged Dorialle and the baby closely. My home is here, with you. Rowan gazed up at the surrounding mountains. Queen she may be, but she will not change that.

What should we do?

Perhaps, Rowan paused, I have an idea. A way to satisfy the Queen’s wishes, and still avoid unnecessary attention.

A drawing of a person Description automatically generated

The morning of the naming ceremony, Lady Sylph flew into the center of the main meadow. Her soft gray hair piled loosely on top of her head, she moved with the grace of a dancer. Sylph surveyed the meadow, listening carefully: whispers drifted in the wind; birds warbled and chirped among the flowers; animals stirred in the surrounding woods. Most of the fairies of Somewhere gathered in the meadow now, waiting. The sky was clear and rapidly filling with sunshine; a pair of golden eagles circled overhead. Sylph sent the eagles a brief energy pulse; they responded with high whistles. No sign of any intruders.

Rowan landed next to Sylph. All the scouts report a clear perimeter. He held out a hand to Sylph. Shall we?

Rowan and Sylph formed a circle with the ten other fairies of the elder council. Together they summoned the energy to open a portal between Somewhere and Fairy Land.

First to appear was the Barrier, a towering, glowing energy wall. It formed along the edge of the meadow, so large and dense that the forest beyond could not be seen. Eerily silent, the Barrier’s gray expanse seethed with brilliant colors; shadows and light dancing together. Amid the energy patterns, a bright spot grew rapidly in size, forming an open tunnel through the Barrier.

Six fairies charged through the open portal, all wearing the silver and green colors of the Royal Court. These were the Portal Guards. Two of the Guards stood at attention on either side of the portal, while the other Guards spread out through the meadow. Once satisfied the meadow was secure, the Guards sent an energy pulse back down the opening. The portal stretched wider.

With a fanfare of music and wings, the fairy court flew out of the portal riding a flock of pigeons, followed by Queen Madrina and King Sigil on their own pair of peregrine falcons. As the birds soared over the waiting crowd, Rowan turned to Dorialle.

Falcons? Are they trying to impress someone?

Dorialle hushed him. Keeping a smile on her face, she glanced around to see if anyone else had overheard the comment. But all eyes were focused on the Queen.

Queen Madrina, resplendent in a flowing red gown, her auburn hair bound up in elegant braids, waved at the waiting fairies below her. King Sigil flew at her side, his white hair snapping askew in the wind. He also was dressed in red, matching his Queen. His tiny mustache and goatee were carefully trimmed, ending in curls.

The two falcons landed first, and the pigeons formed a cautious circle around them as the royal couple descended from their feathery perches. Offering a hand to his Queen, Sigil cleared his throat.

You know I love you dearly, my darling, but I must admit I prefer the quiet life of the royal household to all this adventuring. He glanced nervously around the meadow. Outdoors and all.

Oh, look at all the flowers! Madrina laughed, delighted. How do they do it?

A shimmering light emerged from the end of the Portal and flowed toward the Queen. The watching fairies fell silent as the silvery glow transformed into an ancient fairy, one of the powerful seers of the fairy world.

Queen Madrina offered her hand to the newcomer. My dear Lady, she said, thank you for coming. King Sigil announced her to the assembly.

Lady Florinssawilcombrae, Famed Seer of the Royal Court.

The seer accepted the royal welcome, nodded her head to both the Queen and King. She winked slightly at the King as she passed him.

Lady ‘Flo’ will suffice.

The portal closed behind them, and the Barrier faded from sight. The Portal Guards remained at their posts, awaiting the return trip.

Lady Sylph led the royal party to where the ceremony was to be held. Three matching cradles stood there, carved out of spiky pinecones lined with soft blankets: three tiny babies lying inside. All waiting for the Queen.

Madrina stopped suddenly, startled. What is this? she asked Sylph.

Sylph glanced at Rowan before answering. These are the children you have come to honor, Your Majesty. Their births have blessed and strengthened our community this spring. A special blessing indeed, with the twins.

Queen Madrina narrowed her eyes, looking at Rowan for a long moment. Then she smiled. Twins! She laughed gaily. How wonderful! Let us begin.

Lady Flo approached the first cradle, where Dorialle and Rowan stood. The seer greeted them with a brief smile, but focused her attention on their son, who watched her with large, dark brown eyes. Some of the silvery fairy dust wafted into his cradle, and he suddenly, loudly, sneezed.

The seer held out her hand, and the baby grabbed one of her long fingers in his tiny fist. He sneezed again, and the attending fairies twittered with laughter. With great dignity, Lady Flo sat down on a smooth pebble next to the cradle, with the baby still holding onto her finger.

Queen Madrina settled down on a pink lotus blossom. Five court fairies stood before her, forming a living book stand, holding the Fairy Book of Names.

As the Queen opened the ancient book, streams of multi-colored fairy dust spilled out. Using a butterfly antenna for a quill and a stoppered vial of grasshopper spit for ink, the Queen prepared to enter the first name. The fluttering wings of the gathered fairies sounded like gentle rain.

Queen Madrina spoke formally, following the ancient traditions. Dorialle and Rowan, what is your child’s name to be?

His name, Dorialle gazed adoringly at her son, is Bosco.

Queen Madrina stiffened, her butterfly pen waving in the breeze. Two hovering court fairies bumped into each other in shock. Murmuring was heard throughout the court.

The Queen drew a slow breath, then smiled. What did you say, dear?

Dorialle blushed slightly, and repeated, His name is Bosco.

Queen Madrina glanced over the many names listed in the Book, names like Glimmer, Rainbow, Sparkle, Sweetnums, Giggles, and Maywinks. Bosco, well, just wasn’t your usual fairy name.

King Sigil leaned over his Queen’s shoulder, as if studying the book as well. Clearing his throat softly he said, I believe it is Italian. He shot a questioning gaze at Rowan.

Dorialle’s blush deepened. Rowan calmly returned the King’s look.

The Queen studied the infant, who looked back at her with gentle eyes. A bumblebee buzzed over the cradle and the young fairy reached for it with